George Szell, The Cleveland Orchestra Mozart* – Symphonies Nos. 39 & 40 Exsultate, Jubilate

I t was said that George Szell was a perfectionist and this CD proves it! These performances are probably as excellent as any your going to hear. Although the recordings are dated, they actually sound better than many modern digital recordings. His “Das Rheingold” is a sonic masterpiece and is possibly the best version ever recorded! Very powerful and brilliant, and it closely resembles a thunderstorm!

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor Op. 64; Capriccio Italien Op. 45 -
The Cleveland Orchestra; George Szell, conductor
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 308 Mb | FLAC+LOG+M3U+Cue | Full scans | 2 RS links
Publisher: Sony Classical

For this Fifth Symphony is one of the great ones: magnificently played (of course), urgent and dynamic in the first movement, passionate but always flowing in the second, elegant in the waltz, and triumphant but never needlessly bombastic in the finale… This is a release that Szell fans will surely want to acquire, assuming of course that you don't already own one of its prior incarnations. - David Hirwitz

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C major Op. 21 and No. 6 in F major op. 68 “Pastoral”; “Egmont” Overture Op. 84 -
The Cleveland Orchestra; George Szell, conductor
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 353 Mb | FLAC+LOG+M3U+Cue | Cover scans | 3 RS links
Publisher: Sony Classical

George Szell brings classical lightness and drive to Beethoven's early symphony, all the while pointing up the composer's daring formal and harmonic inventiveness…. Szell's Pastorale is one of the great recordings, full of feeling and sinuous beauty. Victor Carr Jr

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor Op. 125; “Fiedlio” Overture Op. 72b –
Adelle Addison; Jane Hobson; Richard Lewis; Donald Bell; The Cleveland Orchestra; George Szell, conductor
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 344 Mb | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Cover scans | 3 RS links
Publisher: Sony Classical

Editorial Reviews - Amazon.com
George Szell's Beethoven Ninth is not the sort of cosmic display that Wilhelm Furtwängler and other members of the German "Romantic" school made of it, but taken on its own terms it's a lean and mean performance full of power and drama. The Cleveland Orchestra plays with its customary expertise and Szell caps the performance with a smoking rendition of the finale–great choral singing, and an irresistible forward momentum. A great performance. –David Hurwitz

William Walton: Variations on a Theme by Hindemith; Symphony No. 2; Partita for Orchestra – The Cleveland Orchestra; George Szell
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 350 MB | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: Sony Classics | Recorded: 1959-1964 | Published: 2001

Walton's Variations on a Theme of Hindemith is the symphonic masterpiece of his late years. Hindemith himself loved it… George Szell's performance is simply definitive. In fact, I would go out on a limb and say that purely in terms of the technical quality of the playing, this is one of the top ten classical recordings ever made. It's so close to perfection as to be beyond criticism. -Editorial Reviews - Amazon.com

Antonin Dvorak: Slavonic Dances Op. 46 & Op. 72 – The Cleveland Orchestra; George Szell
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 396 MB, 3% recovery | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: Sony Classical | Recorded: 1963-65 | Published: 2011

The benchmark performance of Slavonic Dances - now remastered!
"Exuberant, elegant and marvelously played …The charisma of the playing is unforgettable and …the warm acoustics of Severance Hall ensure the consistency of the orchestral sound." - Penguin Guide